Great and Holy Saturday

In the tomb with the body and in Hades with the soul, in Paradise with the thief and on the throne with the Father and the Spirit, were You, O boundless Christ filling all things.

— Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Great and Holy Friday

As we remember the Lord’s passion and death on the cross:

“… He [Jesus] surrendered himself as a ransom to death by which we were held captive, sold into slavery under sin. Descending by the cross into Hades to fulfill all things in himself, he freed us from Death’s despair, and rose on the third day, preparing the way for the resurrection of all flesh from the dead…”

[From the Liturgy of St. Basil the Great]

Schedule for the Holy Days 2025

Thursday, 4/17, Great and Holy Thursday
7:00 p.m. Matins with the proclamation of the Passion Gospels

Friday, 4/18, Great and Holy Friday
Today is a day of fasting and strict abstinence: meat and dairy products are forbidden
5:00 p.m. Vespers and Veneration of the Holy Shroud

Saturday, 4/19, Great and Holy Saturday
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (Blessing of Bread)
4:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
6:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
Prayer at the Tomb

Sunday, 4/20, Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
—Blessing of Arthos, Anointing, and Blessing of Easter Foods

9:15 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Great and Holy Tuesday

On Holy Tuesday the Byzantine Church calls to remembrance two parables, which are related to the Second Coming. The one is the parable of the Ten Virgins (Mt 25:1-3); the other the parable of the Talents (Mt 25:14-30). These parables deal with such subjects as spiritual vigilance, stewardship, accountability and judgement.

Great and Holy Monday

“I see Your bridal chamber completely engulfed with light, O my Savior, and I do not have a wedding garment to enter and enjoy Your brightness; fill the garment of my soul with light, and save me, O Lord, save me!”
Exapostilarion, Matins of the Great Monday

Divine Liturgy for the coming week

Glory to Jesus Christ!

Sunday, 4/13, Palm Sunday — Blessing of Pussywillows and Anointing
8:40 a.m. Lytija and Blessing of Bread
9:00 a.m. For the people of the parish
10:30 a.m, God’s blessing and health for Jacek Smigelski

Epistle: Philippians 4:4-9
Gospel: John 12:1-18, Tone 7

Monday, 4/14, Great and Holy Monday Our Holy Father Martin, Pope of Rome
9:00 a.m. +Roman Markiw (Pan.) requested by the Yanovski family

Tuesday, 4/15, Holy Apostles Aristarchus, Pudens
9:00 a.m. Special Intention

Wednesday, 4/16/25 Great and Holy Wednesday, Holy Martyrs Agape, Irene and Chionia
9:00 a.m. No particular intention for the Divine Liturgy

Thursday, 4/17, Great and Holy Thursday
7:00 p.m. Matins with the proclamation of the Passion Gospels

Friday, 4/18, Great and Holy Friday
Today is a day of fasting and strict abstinence: meat and dairy products are forbidden
5:00 p.m. Vespers and Veneration of the Holy Shroud

Saturday, 4/19, Great and Holy Saturday
9:00 a.m. Divine Liturgy (Blessing of Bread)
4:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
6:00 p.m. Blessing of Easter Foods
Prayer at the Tomb

Sunday, 4/20, Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ
—Blessing of Arthos, Anointing, and Blessing of Easter Foods

9:15 a.m. Procession and Paschal Matins
10:30 a.m. For the people of the parish

Epistle: Acts. 1:1-8
Gospel: John 1:1-17, Tone 7